Air conditioners are a widely used tool for cooling homes and offices during times of sweltering heat. They make life infinitely more comfortable. As their use becomes more and more widespread, people have begun to wonder…how do air conditioners work?

The process is similar to that of a refrigerator, and the two machines use many of the same tools. For example, refrigerators use what’s known as Freon, which is a make up of certain gases and liquids used as refrigerants.

Air conditioners use the same refrigerant in their cooling process. But how does it work?

Step One

The refrigerant is pumped through the system by the compressor, one of the most important parts of the system. As it moves through the compressor, it gains pressure and becomes a higher temperature before moving on to the condenser.

Step Two

Using a series of fans and coils, the condenser cools the hot refrigerant enough to turn it into a liquid. The hot liquid then moves on to the expansion valve.

Step Three

During this process, the liquid turns back into a gas. As the hot liquid moves through the expansion valve, it cools considerably. The liquid then moves across a series of coils, called evaporator coils.

The cold air that comes from this process is then released into your home through your duct system while the remaining warm gas is taken back into the system to be used to continue the process.

Inside and Outside

The cycle continues the same way as long as the system is in use. All systems work in basically the same way, though there are many different styles to choose from. For a central air conditioner, the system is split between the interior and the exterior of the home.

It’s easy to find the outdoor part of the system, which is really the most important part. It’s a big metal box that sits outside the home. Housed inside the unit are all of the essential parts: the refrigerant, the compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve.

The outside unit is connected to the home’s furnace through a refrigeration line. The furnace has its own set of coils, the evaporator coils, that are used before the cool air is circulated through the home.

Whether you’re looking to cool your home or your business, air conditioners are a remarkable and efficient tool that will make life far more comfortable.